As Shell sells one of India’s largest renewable-energy businesses, the company’s once-grand vision of becoming an electricity giant continues to evaporate. The wind turbines are being packed away. The solar panels are changing hands. Meanwhile LNG, oil and gas once again sit proudly at the centre of the empire
PART ONE
FROM GREEN MESSIAH TO GREEN LIQUIDATOR
There was a time—not very long ago—when Shell wanted the world to believe it was transforming itself into one of the largest electricity companies on Earth.
The message was repeated in glossy sustainability reports, investor presentations and carefully choreographed speeches.
Wind.
Solar.
Hydrogen.
Electric vehicle charging.
Net Zero.
Integrated power.
The future, Shell insisted, would not simply be barrels of oil.
It would be electrons.
Fast-forward to July 2026.
Shell has now agreed to sell Sprng Energy, one of India’s largest renewable-energy businesses, to Aditya Birla Renewables for approximately $1.8 billion.
